Tech

Kenya: Court rules Meta can be sued over moderator layoffs

Published

6 hours ago

September 21, 2024

A Kenyan judge has declared that Facebook’s parent firm, Meta, may face legal action in the country due to a contractor’s termination of several content moderators.

The content moderators filed a lawsuit against Meta and two contractors last year, claiming that their attempts to form a union cost them their jobs as employees of Sama, a Kenyan company hired to oversee Facebook material.

They claimed that after Facebook switched contractors, they were banned from applying for the same positions at Majorel, another company.

October of last year saw the breakdown of the moderators’ out-of-court settlement negotiations with Meta. The case may affect Meta’s global cooperation with content moderators. The multinational behemoth is responsible for vetting graphic content uploaded on its site by moderators worldwide.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal’s order confirmed a labour court’s decision from April 2023 in Kenya, which had declared that Meta could go to trial regarding the moderators’ dismissals. Meta had challenged this decision.

Additionally, it upheld a different decision from February 2023 that allowed Meta to be sued in Kenya for allegedly subpar working conditions. Meta had challenged the decision.

“The upshot of our above findings is that the appellants’ (Meta’s) appeals … are devoid of merit and both appeals are hereby dismissed with costs to the respondents,” the judges at the Court of Appeal said in their ruling.

In the past, Meta has refuted claims of a subpar workplace in Kenya by stating that its partners must offer circumstances that are among the best in the sector. According to Majorel, it doesn’t discuss ongoing or ongoing legal disputes.

“Meta being sued in Kenya is a wake-up call for all Big Tech companies to pay attention to the human rights violations taking place along their value chains,” said Mercy Mutemi, a lawyer for the content moderators.

The moderators’ legal team, Foxglove, a British tech rights group, claimed Meta had reached its limit.

“We are excited the roadblocks are finally gone – and will support the 185 (contractors) every step of the road to the courtroom,” Foxglove director Martha Dark said.

Tech

Uncap VC earmarks $33m to empower early-stage African SMEs

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenya’s Venture Capital firm, Uncap, has announced earmarking a whopping $33 million fund aimed at fostering the growth of early-stage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.

Uncap CEO, Franziska Reh, who made the announcement on a statement, said the firm will collaborate with key partners to unlock new growth opportunities for African businesses.

She stated that the fund presents a “unique non-dilutive, revenue-based financing model that provides crucial support to early-stage businesses without requiring equity stakes.”

“These partnerships include O-Farms, a circular agriculture program run by Bopinc and funded by the Ikea Foundation, and SAIS, an agritech initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ.

“The fund has garnered support from global institutions, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bayer Foundation. This backing underscores the potential impact of Uncap’s innovative approach to SME financing in Africa.”

“This initiative by Uncap represents a significant step towards addressing the financing challenges faced by African SMEs. By offering a flexible, non-dilutive funding model, the fund aims to empower entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while retaining control.

“As Africa’s SME sector continues to evolve, innovative financing solutions like Unconventional Capital could play a crucial role in driving economic growth and development across the continent,” Reh added.

Uncap’s track record includes investments in 87 companies across seven sub-Saharan African countries with their portfolio spanning eight sectors, including agriculture, education, food and beverages, media and entertainment.

According to the CEO, to qualify for funding, intending SMEs must be registered limited companies in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, or Nigeria and should have at least two years of operational history and a minimum revenue of $89,000 in the past 12 months.

Tech

Egypt’s climate action accelerator Athar graduates 5th cohort of green entrepreneurs

Published

2 days ago

September 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Egypt-based climate action accelerator, Athar, has marked the graduation of the fifth cohort of its ‘Climate Action Accelerator Programme’ for green entrepreneurs.

The accelerator programme, which was in conjunction with DFC, a startup that aims to develop solar-powered mobile charging stations for electric vehicles, saw the graduands going home with prices up to EGP150,000 ($3,000), and was funded by the Embassy of Finland in Cairo and Hivos, and in partnership with Creativa Innovation Hubs in Upper Egypt.

Shoaib Elqady, the CEO of Athar Accelerator who spoke at the graduation ceremony, said:

“These founders are not only creating solutions to some of our most pressing environmental challenges but are also laying the groundwork for sustainable economic development in Egypt and the wider region. Their success is a testament to the growing importance of climate action in the startup ecosystem.

“We’ve seen a diversity of startups, ranging from those with high growth potential to small and medium enterprises. It is essential to continue supporting these businesses while recognising their differences as they reach their next milestones.

“Not all startups are suitable for venture capital funding, but we need to introduce new funding models that can cater to their unique needs, ensuring they thrive long-term,” he said.

The fifth edition of the programme ended with a demo day held in Minya, Upper Egypt, where 10 startups from Upper Egypt presented their solutions, addressing vital sectors such as eco-friendly biopesticides, renewable energy, organic fertilisers and sustainable furniture.

The winning startup was DFC, which is developing solar-powered mobile charging stations for electric vehicles, and took home the grand price of $3,000.

Other well-performing participants included Fertical, which is utilising beneficial microbes to produce eco-friendly biopesticides and biofertilisers, and Vermi Valley, which is turning livestock and plant waste into nutrient-rich compost.

In addition to the startup pitches, the event also featured the launch of the “Green Manifesto”, a declaration of principles and dedication to supporting overlooked founders in green sectors across Upper Egypt and other underserved regions.

“The manifesto emphasises the need to empower local entrepreneurs, recognise the diversity of startups, and build sustainable communities that foster long-term growth and innovation,” the Athar CEO said.